PS2 [Testers Needed] OPL internal exfat 2TB+ HDD and multi-BDM devices
- Thread starter grimdoomer
- Start date
I have been reading through this thread and watched a couple videos so far on how to set this up. Am I correct when I say if you're using an HDD > 2tb (most likely any hdd > this size has 512e sectors), you basically HAVE to connect your SATA drive directly to your motherboard to properly format it for OPL to work?
As of right now, has anyone been able to use a SATA to USB dock/adapter for an hdd > 2tb and gotten it to work?
As of right now, has anyone been able to use a SATA to USB dock/adapter for an hdd > 2tb and gotten it to work?
Vertebreaker
Forum Noob
First, thanks so much for putting out this new version of OPL, grimdoomer. I just wanted to register here to share that and my experience with it so far! To address the question in a post prior to mine:
Actually yes! I'll get to that in a moment.
Setup was a bit of a headache for me as I ran into numerous red herrings and other failings, including a USB drive that died on me, causing me to think my PS2's USB ports were dead, a clearly incompatible 8TB HDD, causing me to suspect my SATA network adaptor was now dying/dead, and a weird issue with uLaunchElf not seeing any of my USB drives. However, those seem to be isolated to just my scenario and I seem to have the process figured out now, so I'm happy to share what items worked for me!
These are the items that got me up and running:
Lastly, if you're going to do what I did and put the entire North American PS2 library on the HDD, I strongly suggest you don't bother with art. Does it look nice? Sure. But there are way too many games and when it takes 2-3 seconds to load the art every time you scroll to a game, you're going to spend more time scrolling through games, generating art, than actually playing games. I know it's not as aesthetically pleasing to have just text, but your time is worth more than aesthetics in that particular case.
I think that's everything. Sorry I couldn't provide links, something about permissions or whatnot. Let me know if you have any questions!
Actually yes! I'll get to that in a moment.
Setup was a bit of a headache for me as I ran into numerous red herrings and other failings, including a USB drive that died on me, causing me to think my PS2's USB ports were dead, a clearly incompatible 8TB HDD, causing me to suspect my SATA network adaptor was now dying/dead, and a weird issue with uLaunchElf not seeing any of my USB drives. However, those seem to be isolated to just my scenario and I seem to have the process figured out now, so I'm happy to share what items worked for me!
These are the items that got me up and running:
- Phat PS2, model SCPH-39001 w/ DVD Player 2.12U
- This is good info to know about your PS2 if you need to use FreeDVDBoot later on...
- Seagate BarraCuda 8TB HDD (ST8000DM004)
- Sabrent USB 3.0 Tool-Free Enclosure (EC-KSL3)
- This is the item you'd be looking for, Jerhyn867. It required no updates or firmware. 100% plug and play.
- Any SATA Network Adapter off Amazon. I personally used the RGEEK SATA HDD Connector off Amazon but YMMV.
- A couple cheap USB thumb drives, in case one goes bad like mine did. Any Inland USB thumb drive from Microcenter will do.
- Free McBoot. I used the RGEEK Free McBoot card off Amazon, but also ended up burning my own DVD with FreeDVDBoot to reinstall FMCB after my install got messed up. I used the "V4" zip of FMCB from right here on PSX-Place to make a new card.
- Everything is in either the proper CD or DVD folder, depending on if it's a CD-based (generally bin/cue) game or a DVD-based (ISO) game.
- In OPL's settings, set BDM Start Mode to Auto and make sure you turn on HDD in Block Devices.
- You do not need to bother with HDD Device Start Mode for this to work. BDM Start Mode is all you need.
- The biggest tip from me: make sure the drive actually works! grimdoomer's hddtester was a big help in determining that my network adaptor was not detecting my incompatible HDD, despite it working perfectly fine on my PC. Use that application if you run into any problems with your HDD being recognized in your PS2.
Lastly, if you're going to do what I did and put the entire North American PS2 library on the HDD, I strongly suggest you don't bother with art. Does it look nice? Sure. But there are way too many games and when it takes 2-3 seconds to load the art every time you scroll to a game, you're going to spend more time scrolling through games, generating art, than actually playing games. I know it's not as aesthetically pleasing to have just text, but your time is worth more than aesthetics in that particular case.
I think that's everything. Sorry I couldn't provide links, something about permissions or whatnot. Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much for the response! This is exactly the information I was looking for! The good news for me is I already have the same SATA network adapter, RGEEK fcmb card, and fat ps2 as you! I was already eyeing up the ST8000DM004 HDD before your response so thank you for confirming it works. I have a different SATA to USB doc than what you mentioned... Do you think it's at least worth trying it before buying the Sabrent USB 3.0 Tool-Free Enclosure (EC-KSL3) you mentioned?
Lastly, when you first connected your BarraCuda to your pc, did you have to initialize the disk? Did you simply just format it through windows explorer and select exFAT? Do you recall your cluster allocation size?
Thank you!
A/M
Member
How to have this interface? look cleaner than the default one,
can you explain me the thing?
Vertebreaker
Forum Noob
I think it's worth trying your existing dock just to see if it works. Worst case, it doesn't and you can order the dock afterwards.
As far as drive setup steps, I did everything through the built-in disk utility in Windows. So that means initializing the disk and then formatting in exFAT. That was it, simple as can be.
hey guys. I wanted to try out UDMA 6.
I tried HDD_TESTERV1.0 and all test pass.
Then I loaded up OPNPS2LD_UDMA_PLUS.ELF but when I go to game settings I can only select UDMA4
Is there something else I need to do? Or will this version automaticly use UDMA6? I am a little bit confused here
I tried HDD_TESTERV1.0 and all test pass.
Then I loaded up OPNPS2LD_UDMA_PLUS.ELF but when I go to game settings I can only select UDMA4
Is there something else I need to do? Or will this version automaticly use UDMA6? I am a little bit confused here
Foreskin_Paladin
Forum Noob
Just wanted to say, your comment helped me out tremendously. I got an incompatible HDD the first time around and a fucky enclosure I'm pretty sure. This is exactly what I was looking for!
I would like to share my experience with this build of OPL.
I have got this working on both a 3000 and 5000 PS2 model both using .zso files. Some of which were converted from bin to ISO.
One hard drive is a Seagate Barracuda 3TB, the other is a HGST HUA723030ALA640
I have used both a generic metal case enclosure, and a Unitek Sata USB adapter (looks a lot like the Sabrent) to format my drives.
I have tested on both drives across both consoles. On the Seagate the majority of the games go to black screen unless I go into Game Settings in OPL and change to Mode 1.
The HGST drive runs most games right away but they are usually choppy unless I select Mode 1.
So bottom line - everything works great when I select Mode 1. A global game settings option in a later build would be very welcome. - I would love to be able to set all games to default to Mode 1. Right now I just change it on every game I play, but it would be nice not to have to do this. Can't do it on OPL Manager either - only lets you do it one by one. (Could the requirement of Mode 1 be due to the enclosure/adapter used to format the drives?)
Looking forward to testing out Firewire next, and getting some dual CRT Time Crisis going. Waiting on delivery of another PS2 because the 5000 doesn't have firewire. (The 5000 will become home to my original 2TB official OPL build)
The artwork loads slow on both systems and on both hard drives. Some themes are better than others - the one I use now (PSE+ I think) at least lets you scroll while artwork loads so it's a lot more usable then the default OPL theme which freezes on each game until art is loaded.
I attempted a long shot in creating a second Fat 32 partition on the HGST drive to see if WLaunchElf HDDMan would recognise it so I could store ART files there for faster loading, but needless to say that doesn't work - didnt really expect it to but thought I'd experiment.
Generally very pleased with this build now though. Got every game I could ever want within 3TB using ZSO formats and Grim Doomers build so long as I use Mode 1. I hope the project is continued and improved or eventually rolled in to the main OPL builds. Excellent work.
I have got this working on both a 3000 and 5000 PS2 model both using .zso files. Some of which were converted from bin to ISO.
One hard drive is a Seagate Barracuda 3TB, the other is a HGST HUA723030ALA640
I have used both a generic metal case enclosure, and a Unitek Sata USB adapter (looks a lot like the Sabrent) to format my drives.
I have tested on both drives across both consoles. On the Seagate the majority of the games go to black screen unless I go into Game Settings in OPL and change to Mode 1.
The HGST drive runs most games right away but they are usually choppy unless I select Mode 1.
So bottom line - everything works great when I select Mode 1. A global game settings option in a later build would be very welcome. - I would love to be able to set all games to default to Mode 1. Right now I just change it on every game I play, but it would be nice not to have to do this. Can't do it on OPL Manager either - only lets you do it one by one. (Could the requirement of Mode 1 be due to the enclosure/adapter used to format the drives?)
Looking forward to testing out Firewire next, and getting some dual CRT Time Crisis going. Waiting on delivery of another PS2 because the 5000 doesn't have firewire. (The 5000 will become home to my original 2TB official OPL build)
The artwork loads slow on both systems and on both hard drives. Some themes are better than others - the one I use now (PSE+ I think) at least lets you scroll while artwork loads so it's a lot more usable then the default OPL theme which freezes on each game until art is loaded.
I attempted a long shot in creating a second Fat 32 partition on the HGST drive to see if WLaunchElf HDDMan would recognise it so I could store ART files there for faster loading, but needless to say that doesn't work - didnt really expect it to but thought I'd experiment.
Generally very pleased with this build now though. Got every game I could ever want within 3TB using ZSO formats and Grim Doomers build so long as I use Mode 1. I hope the project is continued and improved or eventually rolled in to the main OPL builds. Excellent work.
Stry8993
Member
FIXED: by sticking with GrimDoomer's Github Fork 1.2.0.6-1996.
I've tried all versions past 1996, and none have worked (only v1.2.0.5-1991 Beta has; all games show up). I'm trying 2036 and still no luck. I tried the HDD test, its 512 byte sector size, everything passes just fine. Block Devices is set to Auto (also tried manual) and went into block devices and HDD doesn't show up there at all.
EDIT: I've tried formatting the drive again (incase I did something wrong). Tried various versions, again. In the Block Devices, its just USB (On), MX4ISO [off], iLink [off], in 1.2.0.5-1991 HDD shows up as an option to enable, but in any version after that it just isn't there to be able to even enable it. No clue. Everything else ticks every box, that I can think of and have tried.
EDIT 2: Just tried a new 2.5 inch 1tb Seagate HDD in my current PS2 (my usual HDD is a 3.5 inch Western Digital Blue 2TB), and another older PS2 model (the one with the iLink, my usual one doesn't have that, tried two different network adapters (both have the Bitfunx Sata to IDE bridge adapter)... same result. Really don't understand whats going on, and I can't seem to find anyone else having the same issue.
I've tried all versions past 1996, and none have worked (only v1.2.0.5-1991 Beta has; all games show up). I'm trying 2036 and still no luck. I tried the HDD test, its 512 byte sector size, everything passes just fine. Block Devices is set to Auto (also tried manual) and went into block devices and HDD doesn't show up there at all.
EDIT: I've tried formatting the drive again (incase I did something wrong). Tried various versions, again. In the Block Devices, its just USB (On), MX4ISO [off], iLink [off], in 1.2.0.5-1991 HDD shows up as an option to enable, but in any version after that it just isn't there to be able to even enable it. No clue. Everything else ticks every box, that I can think of and have tried.
EDIT 2: Just tried a new 2.5 inch 1tb Seagate HDD in my current PS2 (my usual HDD is a 3.5 inch Western Digital Blue 2TB), and another older PS2 model (the one with the iLink, my usual one doesn't have that, tried two different network adapters (both have the Bitfunx Sata to IDE bridge adapter)... same result. Really don't understand whats going on, and I can't seem to find anyone else having the same issue.
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Stry8993
Member
I tried from my FMCB Mem Card first. Then tried from USB. Tried WITH USB plugged in, and tried without. I have 1.2.0.5-1991 on there, and 1.2.0.6-2036 on there, and each time I tried either version, I'd clear the OPL config. 1.2.0.5-1991 with Block set to Auto, and going into it it shows HDD, I turn it on, all my games show up. Every version I've tried past that its just not there for an option to select.
EDIT: Tried 1.2.0.6-1996, and its working. I think my drive wasn't formatted properly the last time when I tried 1996, but now that it is, from GrimDoomer's fork, its working. That UDMA PLUS is something else! No skipping in FF12's cutscenes (so far). Game changer, literally.
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@PlushWah this thread is the only proof I found that Time Crisis 2/3 works with iLink using OPL. But I haven't managed to make it work. Both PS2 are running latest (at least newer than your post) OPL binary from grimdoomer. Enabled mode 2 on both consoles. Time Crisis 2 shows progress while searching for link and fails, Time Crisis 3 has Link menu setting disabled (so it somehow detects that there is no link?), Gran Turismo 3 just starts as single player it seems. Cable and connectors seems fine, I don't think anyone was using this port. Maybe there is some tool for testing the link? I've even made two arcade pedals for PS2 (hacking Elgato pedals) to play Time Crisis and I can't make it link... Any ideas what to try? @PlushWah can you confirm that it still works?
Following on my own post. So actually the problem was fireware cable. I found couple of posts where people would change cable and it starts working for them. So I managed to obtain a quite expensive (by the time it was sold) Profigold firewire cable (5 meters long), which also was new old stock. And suddenly Time Crisis 3 Link menu option became active. The other cable I had (one that failed) was no-name, but visually it looked alright, don't have any tools to test it, it also was quite shorter (something 1.5m).
BobbyBadBoy
Member
The FreeHDBoot form of FMCB was always the "sexiest" form of the mod, but I must say that with exFAT and its ease of use, plus the fact the FMCB boots even faster, I think FHDB is now abandon-worthy.
The only problem is that some Games don't support VMC well, so when you have FMCB in slot 1 and then MX4SIO in slot 2, you are out of memory card slots for games that don't work well with VMC.
I would assume none of this plays well with those "Multi-Tap" Controller/memory-card hubs that provide more slots for 4-player games. Am I correct in assuming that?
If these new versions of OPL with multi-BDM support could be made to work well with the Multi-Tap controller hub that would be the cherry on top.
The only problem is that some Games don't support VMC well, so when you have FMCB in slot 1 and then MX4SIO in slot 2, you are out of memory card slots for games that don't work well with VMC.
I would assume none of this plays well with those "Multi-Tap" Controller/memory-card hubs that provide more slots for 4-player games. Am I correct in assuming that?
If these new versions of OPL with multi-BDM support could be made to work well with the Multi-Tap controller hub that would be the cherry on top.
BobbyBadBoy
Member
There used to be a side-release of OPL that had a "PS1-GAMES" tab in it, but the way it works is that OPL would basically just read a list of *.ELF shortcut-links to VCD files in separate partitions.
The "compatibility of OPL with PS1 games" as you say it is fully dependent on the emulator that was now abandoned.
I think there was some type of modding-scene drama associated with the incorporation of that "PS1 Games" tab into OPL. IDK. But you can in theory use the "ELF Apps" tab as a "PS1 GAMES" Tab. Same thing.
hello,
I've been testing this application since the day it was launched, and it's really refreshing as an experience and fluid too!
The 1.2.0.5 1991 version was really good, I transferred 600gb to it from my 2to seagate barracuda hdd 2.5 and everything is going well on it.
Since I took the last version to date 1.2.0.6 (1996) to see the improvements (especially the fact of quickly downloading the artworks). On freemcboot it remains on the OPL visual and the cycle runs endlessly, and on USB it starts but I don't see my games, are not accessible as before with this version.
Is there a problem with it 1.2.0.6 1996 ? (I tested the 3 classic, pademu, udma plus versions of which I don't see the udma 6 option?)
I've been testing this application since the day it was launched, and it's really refreshing as an experience and fluid too!
The 1.2.0.5 1991 version was really good, I transferred 600gb to it from my 2to seagate barracuda hdd 2.5 and everything is going well on it.
Since I took the last version to date 1.2.0.6 (1996) to see the improvements (especially the fact of quickly downloading the artworks). On freemcboot it remains on the OPL visual and the cycle runs endlessly, and on USB it starts but I don't see my games, are not accessible as before with this version.
Is there a problem with it 1.2.0.6 1996 ? (I tested the 3 classic, pademu, udma plus versions of which I don't see the udma 6 option?)
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